The organiser of a male-only run to raise money for a breast cancer charity has not paid it a penny – nine months after the race took place.

The organiser of a male-only run to raise money for a breast cancer charity has not paid it a penny – nine months after the race took place.

Colin O’Brien created the Race For Your Wife event, a 10k run in Heaton Park.

The 30-year-old, from Sale, said he hoped to raise £30,000 for Cancer Research when he launched the race.

But despite the October run going ahead as planned, the M.E.N. can reveal the charity and firms brought in to provide medical and public address services have not received any cash from Mr O’Brien.

Cancer Research are now seeking legal advice and have branded Mr O’Brien’s actions ‘damaging not only to us but also to every other charity’.

Before the event, Mr O’Brien boasted that more than 140 men had signed up for the run – each paying a £9.99 entrance fee.

He said he had hoped to attract 500 runners – but those present said less than 50 turned up.

Ahead of the event, Mr O’Brien said: “Breast cancer not only affects those that contract the condition but also those closest to them. If my wife, sister, mother or daughter were affected I, like many others, would be there to support them through it and would have to suffer through it too.”

Following the event, the charity was contacted by people who had provided services claiming they had not been paid. They tried unsuccessfully on numerous occasions to get in touch with Mr O’Brien.

The M.E.N. tracked Mr O’Brien down to an address on Marsland Road, Sale.

He claimed he had paid all suppliers by electronic transfer and said he had sent a cheque to the charity.

When asked if the cheque had been cashed he said he had not checked.

We gave him more than nine weeks to pay up but Cancer Research have still not received any money.

When we called at the address again to confront Mr O’Brien we were told he had moved. Further calls to his mobile were not returned, but he later responded to a series of text messages – once again insisting everyone had been paid.

A spokesman for Cancer Research UK said: “Despite numerous attempts to arrange to meet this particular supporter since last November, he has not made contact with us. In the light of this, we are now taking legal advice. Cancer Research UK relies heavily on the good will of members of the public to fund life-saving work in Manchester and all over the UK.

“Incidents like this are damaging to not only ourselves, but also every other charity, and reduces the trust and confidence that supporters have.

“We need the support of the general public more than ever to continue our pioneering work.”

It is understood some of those who took part in the event directly handed sponsorship money to Cancer Research which totalled around several hundred pounds.

*'He is the lowest of the low...'

Businesses also say they are waiting to be paid by Colin O’Brien.

Paul Booth runs his own MC company and was hired by Mr O’Brien to provide PA services at a cost of £400.

Paul, 43, said: “O’Brien told us there would be hundreds but there was less than 100. Afterwards, he kept saying he would transfer the money to us but he didn’t and then he stopped answering calls. He is the lowest of the low.”

Dave Mylett, 33, runs Droyslden-based Manchester Medical Services.

They were hired by Mr O’Brien at a cost of £500 to provide an ambulance and medical staff for the event.

Dave, from Moston, said: “He approached us at the Race for Life and asked us if we would provide medical care for his event.

“It all seemed legitimate and we were happy to. We charged him the same discounted rate we charge Cancer Research.

“He told us he was expecting 1,500 people but on the day only about 35 turned up. He told us he would give us a cheque on the day but said he had forgotten his cheque book.

“We said it wasn’t a problem and told him there was no rush. We sent him an invoice but never received anything. We would call him and he would say he had paid but he never did. We wouldn’t mind if he didn't pay us as long as it meant Cancer Research got their money.”

BUSINESSES also say they are waiting to be paid by Colin O’Brien.

Paul Booth runs his own MC company and was hired by Mr O’Brien to provide PA services at a cost of £400.

Paul, 43, said: “O’Brien told us there would be hundreds but there was less than 100. Afterwards, he kept saying he would transfer the money to us but he didn’t and then he stopped answering calls. He is the lowest of the low.”

Dave Mylett, 33, runs Droyslden-based Manchester Medical Services.

They were hired by Mr O’Brien at a cost of £500 to provide an ambulance and medical staff for the event.

Dave, from Moston, said: “He approached us at the Race for Life and asked us if we would provide medical care for his event.

“It all seemed legitimate and we were happy to. We charged him the same discounted rate we charge Cancer Research.

“He told us he was expecting 1,500 people but on the day only about 35 turned up. He told us he would give us a cheque on the day but said he had forgotten his cheque book.

“We said it wasn’t a problem and told him there was no rush. We sent him an invoice but never received anything. We would call him and he would say he had paid but he never did. We wouldn’t mind if he didn't pay us as long as it meant Cancer Research got their money.”BUSINESSES also say they are waiting to be paid by Colin O’Brien.

Paul Booth runs his own MC company and was hired by Mr O’Brien to provide PA services at a cost of £400.

Paul, 43, said: “O’Brien told us there would be hundreds but there was less than 100. Afterwards, he kept saying he would transfer the money to us but he didn’t and then he stopped answering calls. He is the lowest of the low.”

Dave Mylett, 33, runs Droyslden-based Manchester Medical Services.

They were hired by Mr O’Brien at a cost of £500 to provide an ambulance and medical staff for the event.

Dave, from Moston, said: “He approached us at the Race for Life and asked us if we would provide medical care for his event.

“It all seemed legitimate and we were happy to. We charged him the same discounted rate we charge Cancer Research.

“He told us he was expecting 1,500 people but on the day only about 35 turned up. He told us he would give us a cheque on the day but said he had forgotten his cheque book.

“We said it wasn’t a problem and told him there was no rush. We sent him an invoice but never received anything. We would call him and he would say he had paid but he never did. We wouldn’t mind if he didn't pay us as long as it meant Cancer Research got their money.”

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